Babesia and Lyme — it’s worse than you think
Babesia, a tick-borne infection that causes malaria-like symptoms, has been making headlines over the past two years as the number of reported cases increases, and concerns grow over the seriousness of the disease and its ability to be transmitted through the blood supply.
Although Lyme disease is the most talked about tick-transmitted disease, Babesia is more common than you might think. In the 2015 issue of Trends in Parasitology, Diuk-Wasser and colleagues report that up to 40% of patients with Lyme disease experienced concurrent Babesiosis. [1]
This means that out of the estimated 300,000 cases of Lyme disease reported annually in the U.S., 120,000 of those individuals may also have Babesia. This is particularly alarming given that the disease can go undetected in asymptomatic individuals and is transmissible through blood transfusions or congenitally. Additionally, Babesia requires different treatment than Lyme disease.
The Babesia microti (B. microti) parasite that leads to Babesia is commonly seen in blacklegged deer ticks. But according to the authors, it’s also common to find ticks and enzootic hosts carrying both Borrelia burgdorferi (the causative agent of Lyme disease) and B. microti. In fact, between 12% and 42% of rodents are co-infected with both agents. This would suggest that “coinfection provides a survival advantage for both pathogens.” [1]
Source: CDC. Number of Babesiosis cases since it become a nationally reportable disease in 2011.
The first case of Babesiosis caused by the B. microti parasite was identified in 1969 in an individual who had vacationed in Massachusetts. It wasn’t until 2011, that it became a nationally notifiable disease with more than 1100 cases reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two years later, this number had risen to nearly 1800.
Setty and colleagues summarized their concern in a 2003 review, “Parasitemia in humans is transient and episodic. For this reason, there is a risk of asymptomatic donors transmitting the disease to recipients.” The authors raised concerns that there were 20 cases of Babesiosis and a variant Babesia strain called WA1 by red blood cells and blood component transfusions by 2003.
Babesia can lead to serious illness. Patients have presented with atrial fibrillation, [2] noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, [3] and anemia. [2] In New York, between 1982 and 1991, 7 people with Babesia died, while another patient on Nantucket Island developed pancarditis and died. [4]
Babesia occurs in individuals without the risk factors of increased age, prior splenectomy, immunosuppression, prematurity, and liver disease. [2] In one study of 192 patients, the average age was 46 years for individuals with Babesia. [5] The ages ranged from 27 to 83 years in a New York case series. [6] Five of 192 patients were immunosuppressed, [5] while none of the four subjects in another study had a splenectomy. [2]
Babesia can increase the severity of Lyme disease. Coinfected patients were more likely to have experienced fatigue, headache, sweats, chills, anorexia, emotional lability, nausea, conjunctivitis, and splenomegaly more frequently than those with Lyme disease alone. [7]
Babesia can also increase the duration of illness with Lyme disease. Babesia patients can remain symptomatic for years with constitutional, musculoskeletal, or neurological symptoms. One study found that 50% of coinfected patients were symptomatic for 3 months or longer, compared to only 4% of patients who had Lyme disease alone. [7] Meanwhile, one-third of patients with a history of both Babesia and Lyme disease remained symptomatic an average of 6 years. [2]
“The clinical pictures for 3 out of our 4 coinfected patients included a large number of symptoms, and 1 coinfected patient had persistent fatigue after treatment,” according to a study by Steere and colleagues. [8]
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Babesia – difficult to diagnose
Equally worrisome is the fact that the disease can be difficult to diagnose based on symptoms. Nearly all patients with Babesia reported sweats. However, if the patient was coinfected with Lyme disease, the incidence of sweats dropped to 42%. Sweats can also be reported in other tick borne illnesses. [5]
Babesia can also be difficult to diagnose with current testing. The parasite was detected microscopically in as few as one-third of patients with Babesia. [5] Specific amplifiable DNA and IgM antibody were more likely to be positive. [5] The reliability of tests for Babesia in actual practice remains to be determined.
The Babesia tests can become negative. The Babesia sporozoites can be too few in number to be detected on a thin smear or can resolve with or without treatment. It’s been reported that a positive serologic test for B. microti will decay over time, leading to a negative test. Half of the patients with positive serologic tests for B. microti were negative on follow-up. [2]
Treating Babesia
Babesia cannot be treated with the same medications used to treat Lyme disease. Doxycycline is effective for Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis but not for Babesia. Treatment with Mepron and Zithromax has been effective for Babesia. Quinine and clindamycin have also been effective but are associated with a higher rate of side effects. Flagyl and Tindamax drugs have been proposed but not well studied. The optimal treatment for Babesia has yet to be worked out.
Physicians have different views over the diagnosis and treatment of Babesia. The Infectious Diseases Society of America’s (IDSA) guidelines advise:
- Symptomatic patients whose serum contains antibody to Babesia but whose blood lacks identifiable Babesia parasites on smear or Babesia DNA by PCR should not receive treatment.
- Treatment is also not recommended for asymptomatic individuals, regardless of the results of serologic examination, blood smears, or PCR.
- Asymptomatic patients with positive Babesial smears and/or PCR should have these studies repeated, and a course of treatment should be considered if Parasitemia persists for >3 months. [9]
There are physicians who have elected not to treat Babesia patients, who are asymptomatic. In 1998, Krause and colleagues reported, “24 of 46 Babesia-infected subjects, who received no specific treatment, had Babesia DNA detectable in their blood for an average of 82 days.” [10]
In 2002, Krause et al reported, “Because symptoms had resolved or improved by the time concurrent Babesiosis or HGE was diagnosed, therapy was not administered to 38 (58%) of the patients with Lyme disease plus Babesiosis.” [5]
There are physicians concerned that symptoms of Babesia may be overlooked when evaluating patients. [11] The symptoms of chronic Lyme disease were overlooked for up to 14 years until reported in the 1990 New England Journal of Medicine by Logigian et al. [12] Meanwhile, the symptoms of Lyme disease were dismissed in by the IDSA Lyme disease guideline committee in 2000 and 2006 as nothing more than the aches and pains of daily living. [11] And the severity of the chronic manifestations were not validated until the 4 National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored clinical trials were completed. [13]
Sources:
- Diuk-Wasser MA, Vannier E, Krause PJ. Coinfection by Ixodes Tick-Borne Pathogens: Ecological, Epidemiological, and Clinical Consequences. Trends Parasitol, (2015).
- Wang TJ, Liang MH, Sangha O et al. Coexposure to Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti does not worsen the long-term outcome of lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis, 31(5), 1149-1154 (2000).
- Golightly LM, Hirschhorn LR, Weller PF. Fever and headache in a splenectomized woman. Rev Infect Dis, 11(4), 629-637 (1989).
- Marcus LC, Steere AC, Duray PH, Anderson AE, Mahoney EB. Fatal pancarditis in a patient with coexistent Lyme disease and babesiosis. Demonstration of spirochetes in the myocardium. Ann Intern Med, 103(3), 374-376 (1985).
- Krause PJ, McKay K, Thompson CA et al. Disease-specific diagnosis of coinfecting tickborne zoonoses: babesiosis, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis, 34(9), 1184-1191 (2002).
- Meldrum SC, Birkhead GS, White DJ, Benach JL, Morse DL. Human babesiosis in New York State: an epidemiological description of 136 cases. Clin Infect Dis, 15(6), 1019-1023 (1992).
- Krause PJ, Feder HM, Jr. Lyme disease and babesiosis. Adv Pediatr Infect Dis, 9, 183-209 (1994).
- Steere AC, McHugh G, Suarez C, Hoitt J, Damle N, Sikand VK. Prospective study of coinfection in patients with erythema migrans. Clin Infect Dis, 36(8), 1078-1081 (2003).
- Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED et al. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis, 43(9), 1089-1134 (2006).
- Krause PJ, Spielman A, Telford SR, 3rd et al. Persistent parasitemia after acute babesiosis. N Engl J Med, 339(3), 160-165 (1998).
- Cameron DJ, Johnson LB, Maloney EL. Evidence assessments and guideline recommendations in Lyme disease: the clinical management of known tick bites, erythema migrans rashes and persistent disease. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 1-33 (2014).
- Logigian EL, Kaplan RF, Steere AC. Chronic neurologic manifestations of Lyme disease. N Engl J Med, 323(21), 1438-1444 (1990).
- Cameron DJ. Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms. Med Hypotheses, 72, 153-156 (2008).
Richard
09/19/2017 (3:50 am)
Babesia and Bartonella are nasiter than Lyme disease for most. Babesia can take forever to get rid of sometimes it can take 9-15 months of intensive multi anti-malarial cocktails to eradicate this. A good check on whether you’ve gotten it under control is to check the inflammation of your liver and spleen. Babesia loves to hang out there (then again so does Bartonella). Forget getting tests they are quite inaccurate better off being treated based on symptoms.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
09/19/2017 (4:26 pm)
The original study only prescribed 10 days of treatment for Babesia. The cases were caught at the time Babesia was in the red cell. The time to resolve Babesia that was not caught early is not as clear.
Jami Cohen
12/29/2023 (9:59 pm)
Hi dr Cameron . I came across this while researching symptoms . I am working with dr raxlen again . I had Lyme and co infections 19 years ago .I was misdiagnosed then for 3 years . I did get better : and then I 3 years ago o became so sick again after stress and a trauma . I was given phyc drugs for 2 years having to endure the most horrific pain . Coming off them. I was put into phyc hosputals and told it was in my head . I knew it was not . I been through this before . I had a test done by dr raxlen from vibrant lab . That showed possitive for Lyme b . Babesia , and bartinella eliszabethea . It showed an igm and igg possitive but all my reg lab tests western blots and Elisa were negative :. I am now on treatment again and I’m taking bolouke and courtem . For the babesia right now . I have had sweats , night sweats . Vibrations in my head . Ringing ears . Muscle pain amd joint pain . Chills . Anxiety . Nerve pain . Burning sensations insomnia . And been bedridden for almost 3 years again . The exact same thing happened to me 19 years ago . I am being told by the benzo community that I am still in withdrawals from the valume the phyc drs put me on ? I’m scared and confused because I am off valume now for 3 months and I tapered slow for a year . Not many drs know about eather things . Lyme , co infections or bind “benzo induced Nuerological disfunction . Both things work on the cns . And it’s very confusing . But , I am treating this no matter what Becaise I strongly believe that my pain is from the tick borne illness . I am 46 yea old women . On disability now . And fighting every min . My question always has been . Why is my pcr showing igm positive after 3 years already . That’s why I am going on symptoms. How to know the difference between babesia . Lyme and bartinella . And benzodiazepine injury ?
Kimberly Giet
02/29/2024 (1:01 pm)
Hi Jami,
I just wanted to respond because I’m going through the same thing. I’m only 37. I had Babesia Duncani but tested negative for Lyme. I haven’t been on volume or any addictive medicine but have all of the symptoms you have described. My whole life changed. No one understands at all not even my husband. My house is a mess. I struggle to take care of my beautiful children. I used to be so active and strong… Now I can barely get off the couch or out of bed. I’m even having strange bleeding that my doctors are ignoring. I force myself to go to the gym several days a week. I don’t eat gluten and try to be really careful with my diet but I’m still not better. If it wasn’t for God and Yeshua… I’d feel completely hopeless. I’m sorry that everyone is doubting you but please know that you’re not alone. Pick up a Bible if you haven’t already. Read Revelation, then Matthew, and whatever you want after that. People fail each other but God never will. God bless you Jami.
Fred
04/03/2024 (8:06 am)
Hi Kimberly,
There is a specific sequence when treating tick borne infections:
1) Borrelia (Lyme) is treated first, using Amoxicillin antibiotic, the treatment protocol is: PO Amoxicillin750mg 3 times a day for 10 days.
2) After the Borrelia treatment you have to treat Babesia and/or Bartonella infections, the treatment protocol is: PO Ciprofloxacin, 250mg 3 times a day for 7 days.
3) To improve the immune system you have to eat two fresh oranges a day, plus one fresh red onion every two days for two weeks.
That is it. Good healing and stay positive.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
04/03/2024 (8:42 am)
I have not seen evidence that ciprofloxacin works for Babesia. I typically start with Mepron or Malarone combined with Zithromax.I have avoided ciprofloxacin after having Lyme patients with tendonitis and reports of tendonitis.
Joanne
06/19/2023 (9:00 am)
What about igenix and vibrant tho? Thought those companies were way better.. and then how does someone know or find out if unwell for years ?
Dr. Daniel Cameron
06/19/2023 (11:25 am)
I find testing not as reliable I would like.
Alicia Kwalton
09/14/2017 (5:26 am)
I was bitten by an insect on August 9, 2014 while lying in my bed. I broke out in hives, went to the ER and my heart just went off. I was hospitalized for 9 days on the cardiac floor. No one could tell me what was happening. Since then I have experienced pericarditis, tachycardia and since December, significant pain in my bones. I am desperate for answers. What is a tick borne evaluation?
Dr. Daniel Cameron
09/15/2017 (5:08 am)
Your doctor has likely already considered Lyme disease. You may benefit from being evaluated again for a tick borne infection by a doctor with experience in that area. You should also continue to look for answers with your cardiologist.
Matteo
09/24/2017 (12:06 am)
Alicia–where do you live? Have you investigated Chagas, or the cone nosed assassin beetle (kissing bug)? I have heard of severe reactions along these lines.
Joanne
06/19/2023 (9:03 am)
What is happening pls update ? Some have Mast cell histamine from food also from toxic over load? Can you share how your feeling and systems how your treating ?
Deb B
09/04/2017 (9:36 pm)
I believe I was bitten over 20 years ago yet I don’t remember it. I was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, migraines and multiple psych disorders. I always felt they were missing something. I felt so sick and kept being told I was fine. I just found out I have Lyme Babesia and Bartonella. My regular doctors still don’t believe me but I have a positive clinical diagnosis and a positive iSpot lyme test. It literally explains everything I’ve gone through. I’ve been having scary chronic migraines that no medication will get rid of. I get complete loss of vision for a few seconds, vertigo, dizziness and aura along with swishing in my ears. Also the most awful pressure in my head and ears when standing or changing position. It feels like my pulse. My neck and shoulders hurt too but these are not tension headaches and my no is usually normal. Does this sound like something that could be explained by Lyme or Co Infections? All my Brain imaging has been normal.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
09/04/2017 (10:19 pm)
You would be reasonable to include include a tick borne evaluation in your workup.
Crissy Naticchia
08/20/2017 (8:32 pm)
My husband of 50 years old recently passed away from Babesia. He has a splenectomy when he was a child and by the time this illness was diagnosed, it was too late for him. His liver and kidneys shut down and the doctors treated him for alcohol withdrawal. I would love to see more awareness of babesia out there.
Cheryl
01/18/2018 (3:43 am)
My husband had liver kidney failure as well, which I believe stemmed from Babesia (Positive FISH). His infectious disease doctors said the test was “invalid” but he responded to the Babesia treatment. Unfortunately it was too late and he went into full liver/kidney failure. He received a liver/kidney transplant in May 2017, but the liver is again showing signs of severe inflammation.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
01/18/2018 (5:34 am)
There are shortcomings of all tests including the western blot IgG and IgM patients. Doctors are often left withe clinical judgment when making a treatment decision if a tick borne illness is a possibility. It is also important to rule out other conditions.
Sue Volkman
05/29/2019 (5:54 pm)
My father was just recently diagnosed with Babesia. He is 78 years old and has no spleen. He is very ill and is having an allergic reaction to the Clyndamicin and Quinine. He can not keep any food or meds down. He is back in the hospital now and they started him on Azithromycin. There was a discussion early on about a “full body blood transfusion”. It seems to me this would be the best course of action given the circumstances, but his parasite level is only a level 3. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
05/29/2019 (8:01 pm)
I have used a combination of Mepron and Zithromax or Malarone with Zithromax on my patients. I am not convinced that Zithromax alone has value.
Lia
08/04/2019 (3:03 am)
Hi I was recently diagnosed with babesiosis after 2 tick panels. The Lyme tests came back negative. I have bells palsy and for a time was experiencing symptoms they termed as bilateral trigeminal neuralgia. I’ve had pain in my ankles and feet so bad I can barely walk. My hips ache. My shoulders hurt. I have prolonged episodes of heart palpitations that I first encountered in spring 2018. I was treated for 10 days with azithromycin and Atovaquone. I’m still sick but no one will listen to me. I am vomiting daily, and what I am able to keep down is severely limited. Along with the pain, the headaches, just feeling utterly rotten, run down, and exhausted I cannot live my life. They refuse to do a different kind of test for Lyme. I had 3 10 day courses of prednisone over the last 6 months, (1 for the bells palsy and then everything got worse not better ) I also had a 10 day course of doxycycline to treat a cellulitis infection in my leg just prior to the tick panels. I don’t think they understand how the antibody tests can be affected by this. I need someone, or something, or some paper to back me up. I live in Southern Indiana. No doctor had even seen babesiosis here. None are very familiar with Lyme. However in just my doctors tiny practice in a tiny town of 3,000 they have seen several cases of bells palsy recently. The only thing I can think of that would cause something so statistically impossible is Lyme. Everywhere around here is bordered by national forestry. All of it is a habitat for ticks. I need help. Please. I’m so sick
Judy
08/22/2019 (3:01 am)
I am so sorry to hear about your pain. There are doctors that will help you and it seems like word of mouth is the best way to find them. You might have to travel out of state if IN providers are unfamiliar. I suggest some internet research and lots of phone calls to get started. You might also reach out to ILADS for help. Best of luck.
Joanne
06/19/2023 (9:12 am)
What Dr’s can help? Also single alone no support able to function good this is not easy for 1 person .. pls any one in Canada can help?
april
09/07/2019 (1:07 am)
Lia,I came across this story on youtube, This guy was infected while studying Longhorn sheep in Montana PBS FARM TO FORK season 3 episode3.In his story he talks of a collegue that talks of new areas and different species. I cant find help either,sick and tired of being sick and tired
Mary S Weidemeier
10/04/2019 (10:29 am)
Hi Lia, I am so sorry that you are having so many problems. Just so you know, ticks in Indiana carry Borrelia Burgdorferi, Babesia, Bartonella Henselae, Ehrlichia Chafeenis, and Funneliformis mosseae. I live in Fort Wayne and I am proof. If you have had these symptoms for a long time, you may test negative…..because the blood test relies on antibodies produced by your body to fight the bugs. I had Lyme and its coinfections for many years and initially tested negative. My body no longer produced any antibodies to the bugs….after so long it just learned to live with it. My new doctor convinced me to take 3-4 months of antibiotics and get retested. Then I was positive for the bugs I mentioned above. In the spring of 2018, my husband was apparently bitten by a tick in our back yard. He tested positive for Lyme, Babesia, and Bartonella nine months later. He was tested because all of his joints were swollen, warm and very painful. He was miserable. After 5 months of antibiotics and supplement treatment, he is much better. The year before, 2017, our neighbor 16 years old spent the entire summer in bed with Lyme after being bit by a tick in his back yard. Start looking beyond your area….find a doctor familiar with these parasites. Get at least two opinions. Your only hope is to find a LLMD…..have you tried Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis? Search the internet and learn as much as you can about your symptoms and the possibility of Lyme and its coinfections. Remember..stand your ground……I let multiple specialists doctors, internists, infectious disease doctors, etc. convince me that the bull’s eye rash I had on my arm was not Lyme, because Indiana doesn’t have Lyme ticks. Because I listened to them, I suffered for years. Good Luck. I will pray that
Dr. Daniel Cameron
10/06/2019 (11:34 am)
Thanks for the correction regarding concerns from Indiana.
Joanne
06/19/2023 (9:07 am)
What was the treatment that was offered. Crazy question what about ivermectin? . Many doing as sr won’t help on dirt road discussions and facebook dort roads 2.0
Mary
08/02/2017 (7:10 pm)
I am also interested in the correlation between elevated creatinine/BUN and kidney disease. My husband has been told that he has third stage kidney disease. We have had multiple tick bites (Hudson River Valley) and now wonder if babesia treatment might be indicated. No LLMD on board, unfortunately.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
08/02/2017 (11:40 pm)
Kidney disease has been reported due to Lyme disease. I have not seen any literature addressing your question. Sorry
Colleen
04/09/2023 (5:29 am)
Does babesia effect labs such as creatine and general panel? White red count, etc…
Dr. Daniel Cameron
04/10/2023 (8:34 am)
Babesia may affect bloods the first week. Several tick borne illnesses appear to cause low white count.
Fred
04/16/2023 (1:16 pm)
Creatine values are very high if you have damaged kidneys, caused by kidney infection or systemic infection. Babesia and Bartonella can cause quite serious kidney damage. The treatment goal is to kill the nasty pathogens in vivo, in this case Babesia, Bartonella, or both, using gram-negative, intracellular antibiotics.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
04/19/2023 (7:08 am)
I have not seen kidney failure due to Babesia in my practice. I am not in the ER for the first week to determine in there are cases of kidney failure.
Colleen
04/09/2023 (5:27 am)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8459803/
This article mentions kidney disease but not the blood levels.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
04/11/2023 (7:10 am)
thanks. I just have not seen it.